After a particularly bad streak of luck in Vegas, Charlie has retreated to Venice, having vowed to give up a life of crime to write crime fiction full time. But inspiration has yet to strike. And to make matters worse, Charlie’s agent Victoria shows up at his door just as his prized first edition of The Maltese Falcon flies out the window with a femme fatale burglar. Blackmailed into committing a dastardly crime in order to get his book back, Charlie is catapulted into yet another adventure, this one even more explosive than the last.

Quotes & Awards

“A sparkling, engaging, and mysterious piece of fiction. The books descriptions, witty humor, and likable characters will entrance any reader…Amusing and refreshing.”

Desert News (Salt Lake City)

“Ewan can turn a Wodehousian phrase on occasion, and his taut plotting adds substance to his considerable style.”

Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Simon Vance’s narration helps create an audio caper that brings together cat burglars, murder, explosives, and other intrigues against the backdrop of the dark side of Venice. Vance’s reading is spot-on as he delivers Howard’s self-depreciating personality and dry humor.”

AudioFile

Listener Opinions

Barbara | 11/2/2011

" Pretty light read, but enjoyable, not too deep. I don't know if I enjoyed it enough to go back an read others in the series. Part of the appeal for me was that it was a mystery set in a foreign city where the main character is sort of a tourist.
"

Ashley | 9/6/2011

" Truthfully, I didn't finish this book. I was forcing myself to read it and man did it drag... just not my style. I gave up with something like 70 pages left. It may be interesting to others though. It was decently written.
"

Other Titles by Chris Ewan:

About the Author

Chris Ewan
began his crime-writing career with TheGood Thief’s Guide to Amsterdam,
which was called one of the “best books for grown-ups” by Publishers Weekly and
one of the best thrillers of the year by the London Times. The Huffington Post also named Ewan one of America’s
favorite British authors. He lives on the Isle of Man.

About the Narrator

Simon Vance (a.k.a. Robert Whitfield) is an award-winning actor and an AudioFile Golden Voice with fifty-eight Earphones Awards. He has won thirteen prestigious Audie Awards and was Booklist’s very first Voice of Choice in 2008. He has narrated more than eight hundred audiobooks over almost thirty years, beginning when he was a radio newsreader for the BBC in London.

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